Mumbai, Jul 19 (IANS): The torrential downpour in Mumbai in the past four days had an unexpected fallout - around 100 students missed the annual IPMAT entrance exams to get admission to IIM-Indore.

The affected students are now running from pillar to post, with frantic messages to IIM-Indore Director, Professor Himanshu Rai, and even Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"This year, the IPMAT was scheduled on July 16 at the Ion Digital Zone in Powai. But due to heavy rains, flooding and road blocks near the exam centre, many of us were forced to take a very long detour and could not reach on time," said Kunal N. Gupta, one of the dejected aspirants.

Besides, many others like Abhinav Kale, Falak Shah, Jash Sheth and scores of other were also delayed by a few minutes but were not permitted to write the crucial exams, he said.

Now, the students have launched an online campaign with hashtags like #PMMISSED AND #IPMAT to draw the attention of the authorities concerned.

"We want them to consider the extraordinary circumstances that day we have prepared for very long for this prestigious exam, some have even taken a year's drop. We urge the government and the IIM-Indore to do the needful to save our future," Gupta said.

Despite repeated attempts by IANS, the IIM-Indore Director and other authorities were not available for comments in the matter.

Recounting the difficulties they encountered in the inclement weather conditions, Kale, Shah and Sheth said many of them abandoned their vehicles and tried to run in the heavy showers for almost a couple of kilometres, but were still delayed.

The harried scholars have now formed a WhatsApp group to highlight their plight and have posted media clippings, photos, videos of the students struggling to reach their exam centre and other things to justify their stand.

They have also contacted the admission office at IIM-Indore through email, phone-calls, but to no avail, besides making appeals on social media.